Automobile ignition device



R. H. TILLSON AUTOMOBILE IGNITION DEVICE Filed DSC. 20, 1954 l ll .TNW/WUR; Hamm H. Tamm! @Wam/5V Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

My invention has relation to improvements in automobile ignition devices, and it consists in the novel features of construction more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

The invention is primarily directed to the distributor unit which controls the spark at the spark plugs and comprises a new type of distributing arm and breaker.

The principal object of the invention is to so construct both the distributing arm and the circuit breaker cooperating therewith that they may be serviceable over a long period of time without repairs or replacements. As a contributing factor to the accomplishment of this object I employ a rotating switch for interrupting the high potential circuit to the spark plugs instead of the usual cam control breaker points. The rotating circuit breaker arm and the distributing arm are similarly constructed in that'they have a compressed graphite bearing held against a seat by spring pressure so that contact will be maintained irrespective of the wear on the bearing members.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple adjustment means in the breaker arm so that the length of time the circuit is open for the production of the spark may be easily Varied. Further and other advantages will be better apparent from a detailed description of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical, middle, longitudinal section taken through my improved distributor unit, some of the parts being left in elevation; Fig. 2 is a top plan looking down on the distributor cap and housing; Fig. 3 is a .horizontal crosssection taken on a plane indicated by the line 3 3 in Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section taken on a plane indicated by the line l--i in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a vertical, longitudinal section of a modified form oi my distributor unit.

Referring to the drawing, l represents the usual timer shait driven by means of the gear 2 in the usual Imanner from the engine crank shaft at onehaif the speed thereof. Loosely mounted on said shaft is a housing 3, generally known as the distributor housing, to the bottom of which is connected a lever arm ll whereby the distributor housing 3 may be rotated to advance or retard the spark, as well known in the art. The distributor housing 3 is constructed of bakelite or similar insulating material and has an annular iiange 5 formed on its inner surface to which, is secured by screws or rivets a metallic disk 6 provided with a central opening 1 through which shaft I passes. The disk 6 is preferably made of copper and has a centrally disposed and upwardly presented boss 8 and a series of contact surfaces 9, 9, etc., adjacent the periphery of the disk, said contact sur- 5 faces lying in the same plane as the top surface I of the boss 8.

The contact surfaces 9 are separated by gaps i i, II, etc., equal in number to the number of spark plugs that are to be fired. In the present in- 10 stance, there are six of such gaps II so that the distributor illustrated would be adapted to a siX- cylinder engine, assuming each cylinder to have one spark plug. The shaft I has oppositely disposed ns I2, l2 formed on it immediately above 15 the disk 6 to receive the rotating switch i3 which serves as the breaker for the low potential circuit in order to cause the induced high potential current necessary to give the spark at the plugs.

The circuit breaker I3 comprises a bakelite disk 20 I4, to the top of which is attached (by cementing or in some equivalent manner) a copper plate i5 and to the bottom of which is attached (in any suitable manner) a compressed graphite ring i5 which serves as a self lubricating bearing resting 25 on the central boss 8 of the copper plate E. Obviously, the assembled disk I4, plate l5 and ring I6 are provided with a central opening I'I to receive shaft I, which opening has oppositely disposed notches I8, I8 to receive the ns I2, l2 formed 30 on the shaft. There should be suliicient clearance between the shaft and the opening Il and notches I8 so that the circuit breaker l may freely slide downwardly under the tension imposed by a bifurcated spring I9 fixed inside of housing 3 35 by means of a binding post 20. The disk Ifl carries an adjustable copper arm 2l securely held in contact with the copper plate l5 by means of a screw 22 screwed into a tapped opening 23 in the disk I4. Radial adjustment of the arm 2l is ob- 40 tained by means of a slot 24 in the arm 2i. A contact element 25 is securely xed by means of a rivet 26 on the outer end of the arm 2l, said contact element preferably being made of a composition of copper and graphite of such character as is readily procurable on the market.

The bottom surface 2E of the contact element 25 lies in the same plane as the bottom surface cf the graphite ring I so that when said ring is resting on the boss 8 the contact element will be 50 disposed in the plane of one of the Contact surfaces 9.

The distributor for carrying the high potential current to the spark plugs comprises the distributor cap 2l formed of bakelte or equivalent 55 Yso Y condenser `5| .disposed beneath the disk 6.

material and the rotating switch 28. The switch 28 comprises a bakelite disk 29 having an arm 30 extending outwardly from it, on the end of which is riveted, or otherwise secured, a contact 3|. In the presentinstance the contact 3| is secured by rivet-32 which also secures the end of the arm 30 and a spring 33. On the side of the disk 29 opposite the spring 33 is a graphite ring 3d which bears against the smooth surface of a boss 35 formed on the inside of the bakelite cap 21. The distributor shaft I, in the present instance, is formed of insulating material and has a socket 36 formed in its upper end, at the opposite sides of which are notches 31, 31. The socket 38 receives a metallic pin 33 having a flange 39 which Vrests fon the end of shaft I and oppositely disposed fins 48, 48 which fit into the notches 31, 31 of the socket 36; The disk 29 and ring 3d are :also 'provided Vwith-an opening 4I having oppositely disposed notches 42, l2 for receiving the pin 38Y and ns 30, 60. Thus, the distributing arm will be Vrotated with the shaft l, atthe same time being held against the boss 35 and the cap 21. However, there should also be clearance between the pin 38 zand Ithe distributing arm so Ythat as the ring 34 wears the distributing arm will be free to move upwardly under the tension of the spring 33.

The usual metallic bushings 43 are Xed in hollow bosses 44 of the distributor cap 21 for the purpose of receiving the leads from the spark plugs. Each of the bushings 43 is also provided with the usual contact 45 over which the'contact 3| of the distributing -arm 30 rides. The contacting surfaces of the .contacts 3| lie in the same plane as the bearing surface of graphite disk 34 so that as the disk 34 wears contact is always assured between the contact 3| and contacts 55. At the center of the distributor cap Z1 is a hollow boss :46 also provided with a bushing 3.1 for receiving the lead from the induction coil, said bushing 41 having a socket 48 which receives the pin 38. A coiled spring 49 is disposed in the socket-48 .and serves to hold the pin 38 in the end of the distributor shaft I. The binding post 2i) is connected with one of the leads of the primary circuit from the battery (not shown), and also has a conductor 58 leading to the usual The .opposite side of the condenser, asis well understood, and the metallic disk VI5 have connection with the -ground (that is the frame -of the vautomobile). The usual clips 52 .are provided for securing the cap -31 to the housing 3.

The operation of my improved distributor unit is .on the same principle as that of other distributor units of the typical battery ignition system. As stated above, the shaft I is rotated from the crank shaft of the engine and makes one revolution to every two revolutions of the engine shaft. With the rotation of the shaft .the rotating breaker switch I3 and the distributing switch .28 are also rotated. As the contact 3| contacts successively with the contacts 45 for the respective spark plugs, the contact 25 of the breaker arm will be passing over the corresponding gap II to break the low tension circuit causing the spark at the spark plugs. Y

Obviously, after a long period of use the bearing surfaces of both graphite rings I6 and 34 will wear. But since both the distributor switch 28 .and the breaker switch I3 are freely movable on the pin 38 and shaft I, respectively, this wear 'will be taken up as rapidly as it occurs and the contacts 43| .and 25 will be assured of continuous contact with the .contacts 45 Aand contact surfaces 9,

respectively. Preferably the Y wearing qualities of the center bearing rings and of the peripheral contacts are equalized so that these elements will wear uniformly. Y

If it should be necessary for the improvement 5 of the performance of the engine to shorten the time during which the high tension circuit is open this may be done by adjusting the arm 2| ofthe breaker switch outwardly. On the other hand, if the gap should be 4lengthened in point of time this 10 arm is adjusted inwardly. The v:time at which the breaker in the circuit occurs relative to the making of the contact to close the circuit to the spark plugs may also be regulated by adjusting the arm 2| ang-ularly with respect to a radial line. 15

In Fig. 5 I show a modication of the invention in which the distributing arm 3@ operates over contacts 8l, 8|., fetc., disposed around the wall of the distributor housing 62 instead of in the cap 63 thereofL The arm 63 is forked at its outer'end 20 54, the branches B5, 65 of which serve solely'as bearing members, riding on the inner surfaces of rings 36, 58. A middle arm 61 engages contacts v6I leading to the respective spark plugs (not shown). The arm 68 is pressed outwardly into 25 positive contact with the contacts 6I, 6I by a spring S8.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An ignition timing device for internal combustion engines comprising a housing, a cap 30 mounted thereon, -a pluralityof electric conducting surfaces lying in a common plane in spaced relation within said housing, a shaft in said housing, a rotating switch arm operated by said shaft and slidable longitudinally thereon, azsup- 'V porting surface for said switch arm, a bearing surface on the switch arm having rubbing -contact with the supporting surface, a contact element on the switch arm for engagement with the v aforesaid electric conducting surfaces, and a sin- 4 0 gle means for maintaining the bearing surface in contact with the supporting surface and the contact element lin engagement with the vccnducting surfaces. I

2. An ignition timing device for internal com- 45 bustion engines, comprising a Yplurality `of electric conducting surfaces, a supporting member for said conducting surfaces, a rotating switch Yarm bearing on said supporting member `and having non-electrical contact therewith near the 50 rotation center thereof, a contact element near the outer end of said switch and having electrical contact with the conducting surfaces, means for rotating said switch arm, and a single means for exerting pressure on the switch arm to con- 55 tinually compensate for wear, and maintain said switch armV against the bearing surface and the switch contact against the conducting surfaces.

3. An ignition timing device for internal combustion engines comprising a plurality of spaced G0 electric conducting surfaces, a supporting member for said conducting surfaces, `a rotatingY switch arm bearing on said supporting member and having non-electrical connection therewith, a contact element carried by said switch arm and 65 having electrical' contact with the conducting surfaces, means for rotating said switch arm, and means for exertingV pressure on said switch arm to maintain the switch arm against the bearing surf-ace and .also maintain the switch Contact 70 against the conducting surfaces. Y

4. An ignition timing device for internal com-V bustion engines comprising a plurality of yspaced electric conducting surfaces, a supporting `member for said conducting surfaces, said supporting 75 member having a bearing surface in parallelism with said conducting surfaces, a rotatory switch disposed adjacent to said supporting member, said switch having a bearing member in non-electrical contact with the bearing surface, a contact element carried by the switch and making electric contact with the conducting surfaces, means for urging the bearing member and contact element of the switch against the bearing surface and conducting surfaces respectively, and means for rotating said switch.

5. An ignition timing device for internal combustion engines comprising a plurality of spaced electric conducting surfaces, a supporting member for said conducting surfaces, a rotatory switch disposed adjacent to said supporting member, said switch having a bearing member in non-electrical contact with the supporting member, means for urging the bearing member against the supporting member, a contact element carried by the switch and making electric contact with the conducting surfaces, means for rotating said switch, and means for regulating the time during which said switch contact engages the conducting surfaces.

6. An ignition timing device for internal combustion engines comprising a distributor and a circuit breaker, said distributor comprising a plurality of spaced contacts, a supporting member for said contacts, a distributor arm bearing on said supporting member and having non-electrical connection therewith, said arm having an electric contact element disposed in the plane of the spaced contacts, means for exerting pressure on the distributor to hold the same against the supporting member, said circuit breaker comprising a switch arm, a second supporting member for said switch arm, spaced electric contacts on said supporting member, said switch arm arranged for electrical connection` with said contacts and non-electrical connection with the second supporting member, means for exerting pressure on the switch arm to hold the same against the supporting member, and means for rotating the distributor arm and switch arm in synchronism.

'7. An ignition timing device for internal combustion engines comprising a housing, a plurality of circularly spaced contacts within said housing and having their contact surfaces in a common plane, a rotary switch arm mounted in said housing and having a contact at its outer end for engagement with said housing contacts, the inner end of said switch arm having an annular bearing surface about the center of said housing, an annular bearing surface carried by said housing and cooperating with the annular bearing surface of the switch arm, and a spring urging said switch arm toward said spaced contacts and the housing bearing surface.

8. An ignition timing device for internal cornbustion engines comprising a housing, a plurality of circularly spaced contacts within said housing and having their contact surfaces in a common plane, a rotary switch arm having a contact at its outer end for rubbing engagement with said spaced contacts and an annular bearing surface at its inner end, a switch arm supporting surface carried by said housing and lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the spaced contacts, a drive 5 shaft for said switch arm, said shaft having means for positively rotary driving of said arm but permitting free relative axial movement thereof so that wear between the bearing surfaces and between the contacts may be automatically compensated, and a single yieldable means for pressing the bearing surfaces and contact surfaces into engagement.

9. An ignition timing device for internal combustion .engines comprising a housing, a plurality of circularly spaced contacting surfaces located in a common plane within said housing, a central annular bearing surface carried by said housing and located in a plane parallel to the plane of the spaced contacting surfaces, a drive shaft 20 extending through said housing bearing surface,

a rotary switch arm having a contact at its outer end for engagement with said spaced contacting surfaces, and an annular bearing at its inner end loosely surrounding said shaft and resting on said housing bearing surface, so that said arm has free axial movement relative to said shaft, and ,yieldable means urging said arm toward the housing bearing surface and spaced contacting surfaces.

10. An ignition timing .device for internal combustion engines comprising, a housing, a plurality of circularly spaced contacting surfaces within said housing and located in a common plane, an annular bearing surface within said housing, a drive shaft extending through said bearing surface, a floating rotary switch arm having a contact at its outer end for rubbing contacts with said spaced contacting surfaces and an annular bearing surface at its inner end cooperating with said housing bearing surface, means for driving said arm from said shaft and permitting free relative axial movement between said shaft and arm, and yieldable means urging said arm toward said contacting surfaces and said housing bearing surface.

1l. An ignition timing device for internal combustion engines comprising a support, a plurality of circularly spaced contacting surfaces carried thereby and located in a common plane, said support having a shaft opening therethrough and an annular bearing surface surrounding said opening and located in a plane parallel to the plane of the contacting surfaces, a drive shaft passing through said opening, a rotary switch arm having a contact at one end for rubbing contact with said contacting surfaces and an annular bearing surface at its other end fitting loosely around said shaft and in operative engagement with said support bearing surface, said arm having free axial movement relative to said shaft,

a positive driving means between said shaft and arm and yiel-dable means urging said arm towards said support axially of said shaft.

ROY'DEN H. TILLSON. 65 

